Water and equality at the core: Tata Steel strengthens commitment on World Water Day

March 22 is World Water Day

Observed annually on 22 March, World Water Day serves as a global reminder to protect our most vital resource. Led by the United Nations, the day highlights the urgent need to support the 2.1 billion people who still lack access to safe drinking water. For the steel industry, where water is a key input in manufacturing, responsible stewardship remains an important part of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework.

Tata Steel has outlined a clear roadmap to reduce its environmental footprint by lowering Specific Freshwater Consumption (SFWC) across operations. The company aims to reduce consumption from 3.49 cubic metres per tonne of crude steel (m³/tcs) in FY25 to 1.5 m³/tcs by FY30. This effort is supported by increased recycling, use of treated sewage, and rainwater harvesting initiatives.

A key milestone in this journey is achieving Zero Effluent Discharge (ZED) across all Indian steelmaking sites by FY2026–27. In India, Kalinganagar, Meramandali and Gamharia have already achieved ZED status, and at major sites, including Jamshedpur, systems such as upgraded Common Effluent Treatment Plants and Zero Liquid Discharge ensure that wastewater is treated and reused within operations, reducing dependence on freshwater.

Beyond operations, Tata Steel is working with communities to support water conservation. These initiatives have contributed to a groundwater storage potential of 101.6 million cubic feet in FY2024–25. Notable efforts include a 2.74-acre pond in Meramandali with a capacity of 55,000 KL that captures surface runoff for community use, and a floating fountain introduced to help maintain dissolved oxygen levels and support aquatic life.

Projects like the CRM Bara rejuvenation and the Aqua Park at Noamundi, which is designed to collect nearly 75,000 cubic metres of rainwater from elevated areas, help reduce dependence on river water and support local water availability.

These practices also extend to Tata Steel’s global operations. In Thailand, the SISCO facility has built a 48,916 cubic metre reservoir and attained ZED status. Facilities in IJmuiden, Netherlands, and Port Talbot, UK, utilise cooling systems that return water to the environment in accordance with regulatory standards.

Through these efforts, Tata Steel continues to strengthen its approach to water management, aligning with this year’s World Water Day message: when water flows, equality grows.